Wednesday, May 02, 2012

BIG ROAD is an amazing read

By MALUM NALU

Since I took my first trip along the Highlands Highway from Goroka to Lae in 1975 with my late old man, Mathias Nalu; at Aiyura National High School; and driving myself some 20-plus years later, I've always been fascinated by the RUPERT HAVILAND Memorial Lookout on the top of Kassam Pass.
Haviland was only 21 when he supervised building of the Kassam Pass Road which ultimately linked Lae to the Highlands.
After completion of the road, he returned to Australia, but died of an allergy to a medicinal drug while in hospital receiving treatment for an illness.
His body was cremated and his ashes scattered over the Kassam Pass road that he built as such a young man.
One of those who worked with Haviland was another young kiap, BOB CLELAND.After a stint with Haviland on the Kassam Pass, Cleland went further inland and himself supervised building of the Daulo Pass Road from Asaro- Watabung in 1953.
The amazing stories of these young man, and their boss, the legendary IAN DOWNS, are told in this book, BIG ROAD, by Cleland, which I've just finished reading.

Amazing and emotional stuff! Unfortunately, copies are hard to find in PNG, however, after overwhelming interest in Goroka at the weekend, Cleland is now negotiating with his publisher for another print run especially for PNG
This book is a must-read for all our young kids!

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